Szulik: Software patents 'retard' innovation - Software - News - ZDNet Australia

Szulik: Software patents 'retard' innovation

Software patents are slowing innovation, Red Hat Chief Executive Matthew Szulik said on Tuesday.

"In the last 30 years, we've continued to see patents really being a challenge to innovation. The industry moves much faster than a remedy process," Szulik told hundreds of attendees at the Open Source Business Conference in San Francisco. "There is very little empirical evidence that builds a correlation between patents and innovation."

In an interview after the speech, Szulik said software patents "absolutely" retard the pace of innovation. But he stopped short of calling for their abolition, as have some of his colleagues in the free and open-source software movement. Instead, he urged reform of the patent process.

Red Hat last week became one of several open-source Microsoft rivals targeted as infringing 235 of the software giant's patents. Microsoft would like to arrange patent licensing deals in one way or another, as it did in 2006 with Linux seller Novell. But an amicable resolution seems unlikely at present.

Szulik took pains in his speech to argue that open-source programmers aren't running roughshod over others' patents. "I've had discussions with most luminaries of the open-source industry. They have always been respectful of intellectual property, of originality and invention," Szulik said.

Afterward, he added that it would be useful for Microsoft to share not just the tally of 235 patents, but the list of patents themselves.

"No responsible vendor wants to violate patents or infringe. Any access that would allow workarounds to take place, so the respect for the innovation is maintained, is a good thing," he said, sidestepping the issue that Microsoft would doubtless prefer that others license rather than bypass its patents.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5

Review: A long overdue update,
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 will
help Red Hat counter competition
from both Microsoft and other Linux
rivals.

Red Hat itself applies for software patents, but said it plans to use them only defensively. Patents do have some value, Szulik said: "When the idea is original, there's no doubt it has value to developers and the organisation behind them."

Szulik's patent reform agenda includes a better searchable database, a "cleaner distinction between patents and trade secrets," and a shorter review process for assigning patents.

Talkback

Add your opinion

In order to post a comment, you need to be registered. (Sign In or register below)

Post your comment

Terms of Service - As a ZDNet registrant, and by using this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understand our Privacy Policy.

ZDNet Australia Live

Microsoft plans to release a flavour of Windows 8 on ARM chips http://t.co/10rKSoAs

RT @zdnetaustralia: Why a $25 computer means revolution http://t.co/ufWQdLzT

Senator Conroy imposes limits on amount of spectrum telcos can buy at Digital Dividend auction: http://t.co/PD7DNr4r

Reminders: Be aware and beware @facebook's #rules. You could lose valuable rights | http://t.co/chuIKcIq | via @ZDNet | #socialmedia #smm

Facebook: 60 million users access apps via mobile http://t.co/jLxQXuQM

Windows 8 Consumer Preview due February 29: why it's not called beta http://t.co/MEAZzVA6

RT @ldignan: New post: LinkedIn posts strong Q4 earnings, up in after hours trading http://t.co/Q95IUhzo

RT @Timothy_Hughes: Windows 8 Consumer Preview due February 29: why it's not called beta http://t.co/sbPX5RwT

http://t.co/JaYhkJjV

Armageddon of War 1.5 (Mobile): Top Hit Game for everybodyIdea is simple,Collect red items, Avoid green objects,... http://t.co/BqJhQRiO

Court agrees to speed up case over #Google's privacy policies http://t.co/hCf5CbQT | RT @ZDNet | #privacy

RT @ZDNet: Facebook admits it needs to fight scams more efficiently http://t.co/O7DvYt87

Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers http://t.co/dZUPbpj1

RT @zdnetaustralia: Why a $25 computer means revolution http://t.co/ufWQdLzT

RT @ZDNet: Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers http://t.co/ZKibHIsQ

Facebook: 60 million users access apps via mobile: By Emil Protalinski | February 9, 2012, 10:01am PST Summary: ... http://t.co/Nq0TvzJY

New website hopes to improve the Federal datacenter consolidation process: New website hopes to bring together I... http://t.co/5yeK9VMO

iPhone commands better resale value than Android or Blackberry: @danjames2012 I find it hard to believe that som... http://t.co/GryjHpQZ

RT @ZDNet: Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers http://t.co/ZKibHIsQ

Court agrees to speed up case over Google's privacy policies http://t.co/NQxH2Ktq

RT @ZDNet: Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers http://t.co/ZKibHIsQ

Why a $25 computer means revolution http://t.co/ufWQdLzT

Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers: http://t.co/FxfaiPqi

RT @ZDNet: Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers http://t.co/ZKibHIsQ

RT @ZDNet: Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers http://t.co/ZKibHIsQ

Facebook admits it needs to fight scams more efficiently http://t.co/AHU5iPKV

Lenovo posts strong Q3 results: By Larry Dignan, ZDNet US on February 10th, 2012 (14 mins ago) Lenovo reported s... http://t.co/Ld0J83UF

There is (or at least will be) a better way to fly ;-) http://t.co/SKyfCiiO

Lenovo posts strong Q3 results - Lenovo reported strong fiscal third quarter results as its PC market share crept up... http://t.co/9jDMsMQD

Google readying cloud storage service - Communications - News - ZDNet Australia http://t.co/1Tqkrzfa

Lenovo posts strong Q3 results - Business - News - ZDNet Australia http://t.co/wApzMLes

Twitter now available in emergencies with satellite providers http://t.co/tNg9Dxns

Google is reportedly getting ready to take on Dropbox with its own cloud-based storage service http://t.co/qEoMRSk4

RT @zdnetaustralia: Google is reportedly getting ready to take on Dropbox with its own cloud-based storage service http://t.co/qEoMRSk4

Google readying cloud storage service: Google is reportedly getting ready to take on Dropbox with its own cloud-... http://t.co/NwLkzWk2

invention these appreciate Every using after Numerous Not well ordering customer any custom route do make these current can consider of N...

28 minutes ago by gurbapagnonna on Abetz shifted in reshuffle

I'd say a reasonable amount of it would be. In the Queensland Department of Education's case, it said it was trying to make as much of it...

1 hour ago by suzanne.tindal on The application nation

Great article, Suzanne—couldn’t agree more. It is only logical for organisations – private or public-- to take a long, hard look â€...

1 hour ago by kashe on The application nation

Every example of action against child molesters in this story related to internet protocols other than the www. This filter then achieves...

2 hours ago by Bob.H on Interpol defends voluntary filter

Soooo... it's okay for Apple to demand use of technologies and designs falling under competitors patents (considered "standards"), but on...

10 hours ago by MoWeb on Apple wants new rules for mobile patents

But I am having an intelligent conversation young fibes, my point is the lofty goal that all are equal is unfortunately not so. That is w...

12 hours ago by Doubt on NBN Co inks $620m satellite deal

May be so, but we do need to lighten up some of these people who are so serious. poor old fibretech nearly brings tears to the eyes and j...

12 hours ago by Doubt on Turnbull decries 'Rolls-Royce' satellites

The latest MS Windows update for XP tries hard to persuade you to update. For those machines that already have IE8 loaded it tries to re-...

12 hours ago by brak on Windows XP clings on as dominant OS

Will be interesting to see if he drives the qld gov political IT agenda or looks to address the IT challenges being faced by qld gov agen...

13 hours ago by Flly on Queensland's CIO returns to the post

So angry! NOKIA has forgotten the main purpose and the user function, and instead prioritised their industry level concerns. I bought my...

13 hours ago by spaceagesoup on Nokia skips Australia in Symbian Belle roll-out

I get what you mean in your context, meski. If the filter is like speed cameras, then people can alternately take side streets and back r...

15 hours ago by techkid on Interpol defends voluntary filter

Remind me again how people can get to a leadership position with absolutely no practical knowledge? I would ask Alexander how he intends...

15 hours ago by cleversoap on Internet won't always be anonymous: ITU

I was reading about DMARC at http://www.unlocktheinbox.com/resources/dmarc.aspx, perhaps they should try to implement something like this...

17 hours ago by wpfn on Phishing scam causes Telstra email woe

As you can tell, I'm a big follower. For AFL read NRL.

17 hours ago by phildobbie on The TV Now aftermath

Im not sure if David Gallop realises he now works for the AFL.

17 hours ago by katerich on The TV Now aftermath

That assumes that people see the stop sign. If you're using proxies, or whatever *all* the time, then these stop signs will never be obs...

18 hours ago by meski on Interpol defends voluntary filter

The advanced remote controlled machines reduce the human working rate from hazardous environment.

18 hours ago by Manasy on Robotic mining worth its high cost: Rio

Internet connection rate tremendously increasingly a lot.

18 hours ago by Manasy on Optus unveils NBN small business plans

content producers see Quickflix as a cheap and effective way of distributing copy-protected content in the Australian market.

18 hours ago by Manasy on Quickflix looks to avoid Netflix's failures

After this it could be very easy to identify the vulnerability products.

18 hours ago by Manasy on Body scanners coming to airports in July

This story has been voted 20 times in the last 24 hours!

2 days ago, Symantec confirms hacker extortion

This story has been voted 10 times in the last 24 hours!

2 days ago, Symantec confirms hacker extortion

Facebook Activity

Keep up with ZDNet Australia

ZDNet Events Calendar

ZDNet Events Calendar